Civil War Websites and Videos for Students
Looking for Civil War websites and videos to share with your students? If so, this is the list for you. It is a roundup of engaging and informative websites and videos for students all about the Civil War.
Kids have access to see, listen to, and read about more than ever before. We can leverage that to our advantage! When we partner with students as they explore the digital realm of the world, we can provide the guidance and tools they need to learn to safely navigate it. You can read more about using websites and videos in the classroom here.
If you’re ready to dive into this list of websites and videos, you can click through the navigation below or keep scrolling. Click on the images to access the resources listed. Be sure to preview all resources to determine age-appropriateness before sharing them with your students.
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Videos
Ted-ED’s “How one piece of legislation divided a nation”
“You may think that things are heated in Washington today, but the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 had members of Congress so angry they pulled out their weapons -- and formed the Republican Party. The issues? Slavery and states' rights, which led the divided nation straight into the Civil War. Ben Labaree, Jr. explains how Abraham Lincoln's party emerged amidst the madness.”
Ted-ED’s “Debunking the myth of the Lost Cause: A lie embedded in American history”
“Examine the myth of the Lost Cause: a campaign created by pro-Confederates after the Civil War to promote the lie that they seceded for state's rights.”
Virginia Museum of History and Culture’s “What Caused the Civil War”
“This video looks at the question "What caused the Civil War." The video specifically looks at differences between the North and South and the outbreak of the Civil War.”
American Battlefield Trust’s “The War Between the States (A Civil War Overview): The Civil War in Four Minutes”
“Join Historian Garry Adelman as he gives an overview of the causes, campaigns, and conclusion of the American Civil War. Watch now to discover the key events that led to the outbreak of the war, and why its effect on the nation is still so visible today.”
American Battlefield Trusts’s “Black Soldiers (United States Colored Troops): The Civil War in Four Minutes”
“Join Historian Hari Jones as he summarizes the experiences of African American Civil War soldiers, from emancipation to the authorization of United States Colored Troops (USCT) to their experiences on the battlefield. This video is part of the American Battlefield Trust's In4 video series, which presents short videos on basic Civil War topics.
American Battlefield Trusts’s “Women During the Civil War: The Civil War in Four Minutes”
“Did you know that many women contributed to the war effort on both sides of the Civil War by acting as nurses, soldiers, and spies? Join Historian DeAnne Blanton as she discusses the crucial role that women played both on and off the field during the Civil War.”
This is a second, shorter video clip about the role women played during the Civil War.
American Battlefield Trust’s “The Emancipation Proclamation: The Civil War in Four Minutes”
“Join Historian Hari Jones as he describes the series of events which motivated President Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Watch now to discover what the Proclamation said, and what it meant for enslaved people across America.\.”
American Battlefield Trust’s “Reconstruction: The Civil War in Four Minutes”
“Join Caitlin Verboon of the University of Maryland as she discusses the difficulties that a divided nation faced after the conclusion of the American Civil War and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Learn about the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Fourteenth Amendment, the Fifteenth Amendment, and the Civil Rights Act of 1875, and find out how the era of Reconstruction affected U.S citizens in both the North and the South.”
Interactive Features & More
Interactive Battles of the Civil War Map
This map can be rearranged by date and location. Images and descriptions of battles are included. An example of the feature on the Battle at Fort Sumter is included below. The main map is shown to the right.
Professor of history’s “The Spread of U.S. Slavery, 1790–1860” map
This interactive map shows the population of people who were enslaved from 1790-1860 according to U.S. Census data.
You can read more from the author in his article for the Smithsonian magazine here.
Smithsonian Magazine’s Interactive Battle of Gettysburg Map
“What more might we learn about this famous battle if we put ourselves in commanders’ shoes, using today’s digital technology to visualize the battlefield and see what they could see?... Our interactive map shows Union and Confederate troop movements over the course of the battle, July 1 – 3, 1863. Panoramic views from strategic viewpoints show what commanders could – and could not – see at decisive moments, and what Union soldiers faced at the beginning of Pickett’s Charge. You will also find “viewshed” maps created with GIS (Geographic Information Systems). These maps show more fully what was hidden from view at those key moments.”
The American Civil War Museum’s Book Readings
“Join ACWM Staff as we read our favorite stories from Civil War history!”
Reconstruction Exhibit
“This exhibit examines one of the most turbulent and controversial eras in American history. It presents an up-to-date portrait of a period whose unrealized goals of economic and racial justice still confront our society.”
Visual Timeline of Reconstruction
This timeline highlights key events in the Reconstruction period. Images can be enlarged when clicked.
Art Hub for Kid’s Hub “How to Draw A Cartoon Abraham Lincoln”
Learn how to draw a cartoon Abraham Lincoln with this directed drawing step-by-step guide.
